Part 17

Horace G. Hart was reared under the parental roof upon the western frontier, having been but six years of age when the family came to Washington. His education was acquired in the district schools and as early as his eighteenth year he began farming on his own account, operating his father's farm, which he continued to manage until after his father's death. In the meantime, on attaining his majority, he filed on a homestead adjoining his father's place and continued its cultivation in connection with the further development of the old homestead. Following his father's demise he came into possession of the farm on which he still resides, but has sold much of the land, retaining one hundred acres as a home. His career has been that of a very busy man. He has closely applied himself to the care and management of his property interests and he has long ranked with the leading and representative agriculturists of his section of the state.

On the 28th of March, 1881, Mr. Hart was united in marriage to Miss Ollie L. McKinzie, of Walla Walla, a daughter of Isaac McKinzie, one of the early settlers of the county. To this union have been born ten children: Myrtle A., the wife of Daniel Callahan, a farmer of this county; Carl E., of Waitsburg, Washington; Ralph H., a farmer of Walla Walla county; Lulu P., the wife of Arthur Coe, a farmer residing at Milton, Oregon; Mabel, the wife of Herbert E. Carr, of Prescott; Dorsey, a resident of Detroit, Michigan; and Mary, Lester, Loverne and Horace, Jr., all at home.

Since attaining his majority Mr. Hart has given stalwart allegiance to the republican party but has never been an aspirant for public office. He, however, allowed his name to be used on the prohibition ticket for the office of county commissioner. He has always been a staunch advocate of temperance and does everything in his power to advance the cause. He belongs to Prescott Lodge, No. 46, I. O. O. F., and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and his wife are members of the Federated church at Prescott and his aid can always be counted upon to further any movement that tends to uplift the individual or advance the best interests of the community. His standards of life are high and those who know him have come to recognize the fact that his word is as good as his bond.

ALEXANDER PRICE.

Alexander Price was a most prominent and progressive farmer of Columbia county for many years and in his death the community lost one of its valued citizens. He was born in Missouri, November 3, 1847, a son of Joseph S. and Sarah (Williams) Price, the former a native of Kentucky, while the latter was born in Indiana.

Alexander Price was reared and educated in Missouri and was a youth of seventeen years when he crossed the plains, traveling with ox team and wagon after the primitive methods of the period. There were no railroads across the country at that time and with the slow-plodding oxen only a few miles could be covered every day. Thus the trip lengthened out over weeks and months but eventually they reached their destination and Mr. Price became a resident of Yamhill county, Oregon. There he secured employment as a farm hand, remaining in that state until the fall of 1870, when he came to Walla Walla county and took up a homestead nine miles southwest of Dayton. Upon that farm he lived for seven years and his labors wrought a marked transformation in the appearance of the place. His widow still owns that property, which has now become very valuable.

In 1873 Mr. Price was united in marriage to Miss Clarinda J. Anderson, a native of Missouri and a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Power) Anderson, who were natives of Indiana. They removed from that state to Missouri, where the father died in the year 1850. The mother afterward crossed the plains with her family in 1865, spending her last days in Washington. To Mr. and Mrs. Price were born seven children: George F.; Martha, at home; Celestia, the wife of James J. Edwards; Susan M.; Alice L., who has passed away; Homer E.; and Joseph W.

The death of the husband and father occurred in 1906 and he was laid to rest in Dayton cemetery, leaving a widow and six children to mourn his loss. He had been devoted to their welfare and by reason of his capable business management and wise investments, combined with indefatigable energy and industry, he was able to leave his family in very comfortable financial circumstances. Mrs. Price and her children now own more than five thousand acres of valuable wheat land in Columbia county, all of which is improved, and she also has an attractive residence in the city of Dayton, where she is able to enjoy all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. She belongs to the Congregational church and takes an active interest in its work. In fact, she is ever ready to endorse those plans and measures which tend to uplift the individual or uphold the betterment of the community at large. For many years the Price family has lived in this section of the state, coming here long before Washington was admitted to the Union, and they are prominent not only as pioneers but in those social circles where true worth and intelligence are accepted as the passports into good society.

HON. WILLIAM FARRISH.

In the front ranks of the columns which have advanced the civilization of Washington, Hon. William Farrish has led the way to the substantial development, progress and upbuilding of Asotin county, being particularly active in the growth and progress of the district in which he still makes his home. His memory goes back to the time when the entire Pacific coast was but sparsely settled, when much of the land had not been reclaimed for purposes of civilization but remained in the primitive condition in which it came from the hand of nature. He has lived in the same house in three different counties owing to the division of the old county necessitating change of name and installation of new county governments. He has seen the forests cut, the streams bridged and the work of development carried forward and at all times has borne his part in the general advancement and improvement which has brought Asotin county to its present condition. He was born in Richibucto, province of New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, August 9, 1835, a son of William and Catherine (Smith) Farrish, who were natives of Scotland. The father was a lumberman and thus provided for his family.

Hon. William Farrish was the second in order of birth in a family of three sons and three daughters, of whom only three are now living. He acquired his early education in the paid schools of New Brunswick, which he attended for about three years. He left home in 1853, when eighteen years of age, and made his way to Wisconsin, settling in Grand Rapids, that state, after which he worked in the lumber camps, cutting logs and sawing lumber, which was then rafted down the Mississippi and sold. Part of the time he worked for others and during a part of the time engaged in business there on his own account. He continued a resident of Wisconsin until 1878, when he removed to the west, traveling by rail to San Francisco and thence by boat up the coast and up the Columbia river until he took up his abode in Columbia county, Washington, establishing his home in that section which is now Asotin county. He made his way by stage from Walla Walla to Dayton and on to Pomeroy and to Columbia Center, where his wife's people lived. From that point he came to Asotin, where he embarked in the lumber business in connection with his father-in-law, T. G. Bean. They were thus associated in business for twenty years, on the expiration of which period Mr. Farrish purchased his partner's interest and conducted the business alone. He came to Washington territory in the spring of 1878, when there were a number of Indian uprisings occurring in various sections. There were only about twenty families living in the Anatone country at that time and there was great fear among them because of the possibility of an outbreak of Indian hostility at any time. Some of the men began to build a stockade in the hills and Mr. Farrish sent two of his men to help them cut logs and build the stockade, into which all of the families were taken. The Indians, however, did not attack them although the people were expecting an attack daily. The association which existed between Mr. Bean and Mr. Farrish was ever most harmonious and their business affairs were carefully, wisely and successfully conducted. They would haul the lumber from the mountains by team and then raft the lumber down the Snake river. They furnished the lumber for the famous Truax interests, used for the building of the big warehouses, and also the lumber for the Columbia county plank road. They had a lumberyard at Ilia, in Columbia county, now Garfield, as well as at Asotin, and sold lumber throughout old Walla Walla county. They sold the lumber for the old grist mill at Almota, the frame of which is still standing although it was erected in 1878. After coming to Washington, Mr. Farrish lived in the timber for about five years. Later he removed his home on the ranch, where he remained for about fifteen years, when his residence was destroyed by fire. He then took up his abode in the town, where he had another home that had been erected several years before. He has always been actively identified with the lumber interests during the period of his residence in Washington and has done much to develop the lumber resources of this section of the country and has thus added materially to the wealth, development and progress of the state. He owns a ranch of eight hundred acres, half of which is under cultivation and is now being managed by his son, Harry H.

Mr. Farrish was united in marriage to Miss Content V. Bean, who was born April 14, 1847, in Union county, Wisconsin, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. T. G. Bean, who were pioneers of Washington. On removing westward from Wisconsin they settled for a time on the Walla Walla river, where the father conducted a shingle mill. The marriage of Mr, and Mrs. Farrish was celebrated in Plover, Wisconsin, on the 31st of March, 1869, and to them were born seven children: William Thomas, born in Port Edwards, Wisconsin, February 14, 1870, and now a resident of Walla Walla, married Georgia Bradley and to them were born four children. Frank A., born in Port Edwards, Wisconsin, December 16, 1873, is now a resident of Anatone and operates the sawmill there. He married Nellie Smelcer and to them were born three children who are living and one who died in infancy. Harry H., born in Port Edwards, Wisconsin, April 16, 1876, and now ably conducting the home ranch, married Carrie Evans and they have two children: Gervais, who died in infancy; and Colin. The younger children of this family were all born in the same house although in different counties, owing to the various divisions which were made in the counties at that period. Arthur, who was born in Columbia county July 7, 1878, is now conducting his father's interests in the lumber business and lives at home. Grace was born in Columbia county June 25, 1880, and is the wife of George N. Ausman, a prominent rancher of Asotin county and a son of one of the early and honored pioneer settlers mentioned elsewhere in this work. They have six children. Robert Bruce was born July 14, 1883, and now occupies a homestead ten miles from the town of Asotin, in Asotin county. He married Maud Trent and they have become the parents of two daughters. Edith, born August 8, 1886, in Asotin county, is the wife of E. R. Downen, who served two terms as county treasurer and is now county assessor, and they have two sons. The wife and mother passed away in Asotin, November 14, 1906, and her death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret, for she had endeared herself to many with whom she had been brought into contact. She was a consistent member of the Methodist church, to which Mr. Farrish also belongs.

In politics he is a staunch republican and represented his district in the state legislature in the first, second and third sessions after Washington was admitted to the Union. He was made a Mason in Grand Rapids, Wisconsin, in 1852 and holds membership in the Royal Arch Chapter in Lewiston. He is the only living charter member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Anatone.

FREDERICK J. FLEISCHER.

Frederick J. Fleischer occupies a central place on the stage of business and political activity in Prescott. Important public and private interests have been controlled by him to the benefit of the public and he well deserves the position of leadership which is accorded him. He is vice president and the cashier of the First State Bank of Prescott and is now serving as mayor of the city. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin, on the 16th of May, 1871, and is a son of John A. and Elizabeth (Miller) Fleischer. His paternal grandfather, Knute J. Fleischer, was of German descent on his father's side, although of Norwegian birth, and he came to the United States as Norwegian consul.

John A. Fleischer, father of Frederick J. Fleischer, was born in 1846 and was but five years of age when brought by his parents to the new world, so that he was reared in Madison, Wisconsin, where the family home was established. He was a youth of seventeen when, in response to the call of the country for troops to service in the Civil war, he enlisted in a Wisconsin regiment and through the following two years rose to the rank of second lieutenant. The war having ended, he was then honorably discharged and returned to Madison, Wisconsin, where he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Miller, a native of that city, the wedding being there celebrated in 1868. They began their domestic life in Madison, where they continued to reside until 1872, and then removed to Pelican Rapids, in Otter Tail county, Minnesota, where the father secured a homestead and engaged in farming for thirty-four years, being thus ranked for more than a third of a century with the representative and honored residents of that part of that state. In 1906 he came west and settled first in Lewiston, Idaho, where he remained for five years, and after a year or more spent in Seattle and in Portland he came to Prescott, Washington, where he has since resided. He is now living retired, enjoying the fruits of his former toil, for his years of indefatigable industry and perseverance have brought to him a substantial competence that enables him to rest from further labor.

Frederick J. Fleischer, whose name introduces this review, was reared upon the home farm in Ottertail county, Minnesota, with the usual experiences of the farmbred boy. He supplemented his public school training by a business course received in Dixon, Illinois, and until his twenty-seventh year remained upon the home farm, assisting his father in its cultivation through the summer months, while in the winter seasons he engaged in teaching. In 1898 he accepted a position as bookkeeper in the J. P. Wallace State Bank of Pelican Rapids and three years later he became one of the stockholders in the bank and was made a member of its board of directors. He was also elected cashier of the bank, in which position he continued to serve until 1906, when he sold his interest in that institution and came to the west with his father, making his way to Lewiston, Idaho. On the 1st of January, 1907, he went to Moscow, Idaho, to accept the cashiership of the Moscow State Bank. During the following year the bank changed hands and in January, 1908, Mr. Fleischer went to Spokane, Washington, where he resided until the 1st of August of that year, when he came to Prescott. On the 1st of January following he purchased stock in the First State Bank and assumed the cashiership. This bank had passed through some severe financial reverses and the task of rebuilding it devolved upon Mr. Fleischer. How well this task has been performed is told in the present condition of the bank's affairs. When he took charge the deposits amounted to about thirty thousand dollars. Today and for several years past the deposits have averaged about one hundred and fifty thousand dollars and the affairs of the bank are in splendid condition in every way. Mr. Fleischer brought to his work long experience, keen sagacity and notably sound discrimination and his close application and careful management have brought most satisfactory results.

On the 26th of June, 1901, Mr. Fleischer was united in marriage to Miss Charlotte G. Hicks, of Milnor, North Dakota, and to them have been four children, of whom three are living, Ernestine Lois, Frederick J. and Hugh Warren.

Mr. Fleischer is a republican but not a narrow partisan. On the contrary he is a man of broad and liberal views, but is unfaltering in his allegiance to a principle in which he firmly believes. He has served as a delegate to the republican state conventions of Minnesota on two different occasions and he was city treasurer of Pelican Rapids for a number of years. Since coming to Prescott he has also been called upon to fill positions of public honor and trust by his fellow citizens, who recognized his splendid ability as a business man and desired that the city might benefit by that ability. He was made a member of the city council, in which he served for a number of years, and for two years he has been mayor of Prescott. His administration is businesslike and progressive. It has resulted in bringing about various improvements and while he avoids all useless expenditure he also equally avoids that retrenchment which blocks public progress. In a word his sound judgment discriminates between the essential and the non-essential in regard to municipal affairs just as surely as it does in relation to the interests of the bank, which has grown so steadily under his direction.

Mr. Fleischer is well known in Masonic circles, holding membership in Waitsburg Lodge, No. 16, F. & A. M.; Walla Walla Chapter, No. 1, R. A. M.; and Washington Commandery, No. 1, K. T. He is also identified with El Katif Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of Spokane, and he belongs to Whetstone Lodge, No. 157, K. P., of Prescott, in which latter he has held all the chairs. He and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star at Waitsburg and both are actively identified with the Federated church of Prescott, taking an active and helpful interest in all that pertains to the improvement and upbuilding of their city along material, intellectual, social and moral lines. Without invidious distinction Mr. Fleischer may well be termed one of the foremost men of Prescott, loyal to every interest of general benefit, while his course in private affairs marks him as a man of high honor.

JOSEPHUS M. MOORE.

Josephus M. Moore came to Walla Walla county in 1870 and during the many years of his residence here became widely and favorably known. He was born in Rock Island, Illinois, September 17, 1838, a son of Amos L. and Mary Moore, both of whom were natives of Ohio, whence they removed to Illinois when the Prairie state was still but thinly settled. Still later they removed to a new frontier, coming to Walla Walla county, Washington in 1868, and here both passed away. To them were born five children.

Josephus M. Moore received his education in the public schools of Illinois and remained with his parents during his boyhood and youth. He continued to reside in the middle west until 1870, when he decided to try his fortune in the Pacific coast country, concerning which he had heard excellent reports. He arrived in Old Walla Walla county, Washington, in July, 1870, and turned his attention to farming in what is now Garfield county. This occupation claimed his time and energies throughout his remaining days. He was energetic and resolute and overcame all obstacles that lay between him and success, gaining a substantial competence.

Mr. Moore was married in Ohio to Miss Louisa Prescott, by whom he had one daughter, Mary, now the wife of Walter Preston, of Portland, Oregon. On coming to Washington Mr. Moore was accompanied by his wife and daughter, and Mrs. Moore died here some years later. In 1894 Mr. Moore was again married, his second union being with Miss Eva Abbott, a native of Ohio. Her parents, S. J. and Chloe (Russell) Abbott, were born respectively in Vermont and Ohio, but in 1862 made the long journey across the great plains to California, where they remained until 1880. In that year they came to Walla Walla county, Washington, and both are still living here, the father at the age of eighty-three years and the mother at the age of eighty. Both are still keen of mind and active of body and they are one of the most highly esteemed couples in the county. Four of the seven children born to them survive. To Mr. and Mrs. Moore was born a son, Amos A., who was graduated from the military academy at Staunton, Virginia; later was a student in the State University of Washington, at Seattle, and is now a student at Walla Walla Business College.

Mr. Moore was a stanch advocate of republican principles and served with much satisfaction to his constituents in a number of local offices. The principles of conduct which guided his life were found in the teachings of the Masonic order, to which he belonged. His death occurred September 24, 1901, and he was buried in Mountain View cemetery. He was a man of many admirable traits and those who knew him well still cherish his memory. Mrs. Moore makes her home in the city of Walla Walla, where she owns a fine residence situated on five acres of ground.

ROBERT O. SANDERS.

Robert O. Sanders is living retired in Waitsburg, although for a long period he was actively identified with farming interests in Walla Walla County, and his capable management of his business affairs brought to him the measure of success which he is now enjoying. He was born in Jefferson county, Illinois, October 8, 1852, and is a son of Jacob and Mary (Breeze) Sanders. The father was a native of Indiana, while the mother's birth occurred in Illinois, where for many years they resided and where both passed away. In their family were seven children, four of whom are yet living.

Robert O. Sanders spent the period of his boyhood and youth upon the home farm in Illinois with the usual experiences that fall to the lot of the lad who divides his time between the duties of the schoolroom, the pleasures of the playground and the work of the fields. When he was sixteen years of age his father died and he continued to assist his mother until he attained his majority, when he began farming on his own account. In 1888 he removed to Walla Walla, since which time he has resided in the northwest, his connection with this section of the country now covering a period of almost thirty years. He began farming here and first rented land and while thus engaged he carefully saved his earnings until his industry and economy had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to purchase a farm. That he has prospered as the years have gone by is indicated in the fact that he now owns three hundred and twenty acres which he has greatly improved. It is wheat land and is cultivated according to the most progressive and scientific methods of crop production. His work has always been carefully performed and his industry and diligence have brought substantial results. He continued personally to cultivate his place until 1902, when he retired from active farm life and removed to Waitsburg, where he is now living.

On January 29, 1874, Mr. Sanders was married to Miss Eva Harned, a native of Indiana, and they became the parents of seven children: Addie, the wife of O. W. Abbey; Maud, who married J. W. Cram; Samuel C., living in Oregon; Alva H., who occupies his father's farm; and three who died in infancy.